CHAPTER 198: 197: ASSISTANCE (6TH ADDITIONAL UPDATE DEDICATED TO WANDERING BROTHER)

Ye Ling gave a bitter smile, wishing it were really that easy.

"Things aren’t as simple as you think. If it were, would I disagree with you all taking the college entrance exam together?" Ye Ling patted her head. "Zhao Guodong is being reckless, and you’re joining him in this nonsense."

"You saw what he was like yesterday. Instead of letting him stay depressed, it’s better to get his spirits up. This can’t hurt, only help. If you think it’s okay, take us along when you review; if not, we’ll study on our own. You just need to talk to him and agree; we must cheer him up." Zhang Linong had no other choice.

Once Dongzi made up his mind, not even ten horses could drag him back. Seeing him so downcast, Zhang Linong felt bad too, and knowing the situation himself made him feel worse.

"Study with me, then," Ye Ling finally relented. "There’s no way I can teach you everything in just over two months. Anyway, I have to review too, so I’ll teach you what I know. I’m self-taught, so I don’t know how good I am, but if you trust me, study with me."

"We trust you, as long as it doesn’t slow you down," Zhang Linong sighed in relief. "I’ll go tell Dongzi, but we can’t all study in your dorm. Why not move back to the compound and stay at Dongzi’s place with Grandma Zhao while Dongzi stays at mine? It’d be more convenient."

It was a good idea, but moving back to the compound and not staying home might cause talk about her father.

Zhang Linong saw through Ye Ling’s worry. "We’re preparing for the entrance exam. Who would say anything? If we work hard and succeed, you’ll be the hero."

Ye Ling didn’t know what to do. "If it were that easy, do you think I wouldn’t have thought of it myself? But with only two months, and you haven’t covered the sophomore material, it’s not that simple. Fine, let’s do it your way—stay with Grandma Zhao. Actually, I have another idea. Since we need to prepare for the exam, why don’t we just return home to review and come back for the final exams?"

"Leave it to me. I’ll have my dad speak to the school," Zhang Linong readily took the task.

Usually, finals happen after the college entrance exams, so Ye Ling wasn’t worried about that. It was her confidence in taking the exam that settled it.

Everything was decided. Ye Ling didn’t know how Zhang Linong explained it to his family, but sure enough, the next afternoon, Ji Zhongjun grimly told them they could go home to study. Ye Ling acted as if she didn’t notice his expression and just agreed. Ji Zhongjun left with a gloomy face.

Ye Ling was moving back to the compound. After school, she saw Zhao Guodong and the others had already packed and were waiting in the hallway. Dong Juan still wasn’t sure what was going on, so Ye Ling explained they would study for the entrance exam back at the compound, and Zhao Guodong asked to join them. Dong Juan looked envious but understood her relationship with Ye Ling couldn’t compare to the solidarity in the compound.

Zhao Guodong and the gang accompanied Ye Ling to the dorm, where she packed her things, took down her bed curtains, and had Zhao Guodong help move them back to the compound. She also told Dong Juan to send a message to the compound if anything came up.

It had been just Ye Ling taking the exam, but now Zhao Guodong and the others wanted to join too, causing quite a stir in the compound.

On the way home, Xiang Weilai laughed, sharing what he’d heard. "I wonder if Ye Ling tutoring Zhao Guodong and them will get them into high school together. If she pulls that off, she’ll become famous."

"The entrance exam is nothing like the high school entrance exam. It’s not so easy, but no one’s stopping this craziness," Liu Zhiyuan said, disliking Ye Ling’s flamboyant style.

Xiang Weilai could tell Liu Zhiyuan didn’t like Ye Ling, so he didn’t say more. But Xiang Weilai held Ye Ling in high regard and had high expectations.

"What are you smiling about? Do you really think they’ll get in?" Liu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but ask his friend, who was smiling to himself.

Xiang Weilai nodded. "At first, I thought she was just a little country girl, but every time I interacted with her, she surprised me. It was unexpected and amazing. Zhiyuan, I know you’ve never liked Ye Ling, thinking she’s too sharp, like she’s covered in thorns, and doesn’t listen to others’ advice. But did you ever consider that Aunt Bai favors Ye Qian? Ye Ling grew up in the countryside without anyone to look out for her. If she were softer, what kind of life do you think she’d have?"

"Weilai, you’re fooled by appearances," Liu Zhiyuan disagreed. "You know what Aunt Bai’s like. If she doesn’t like someone, there’s a problem. What kind of mother doesn’t like her own daughter?"

Xiang Weilai shook his head. "We could argue about this all night and not get anywhere. Let’s just see how it plays out."

Liu Zhiyuan frowned. "Weilai, this isn’t like you. I remember you didn’t like her either, thinking she was too gloomy."

"People change, and I didn’t know her well back then," Xiang Weilai said with a half-smile, hands in his pockets, strolling leisurely ahead.

Lagging behind, Liu Zhiyuan frowned deeply, thinking his friend was bewitched but chose not to dwell on it, quickly catching up.

Back at the compound, Ye Ling arrived at the Zhao Family, and the Ye Family got the news.

Bai Xue was furious, slamming the table. "She’s slapping me in the face, staying at someone else’s place instead of home! How can I hold my head up around here?"

"Mom, I heard she’s studying for the college entrance exam. It’s for convenience, don’t think too much. I’m struggling with even the middle school exams." Ye Qian smiled bitterly. "She’s aiming for the college entrance exam, and I can’t even pass the middle school one."

"Qianqian, don’t be sad. She doesn’t consider us family, and we’re better off without her. She has time to tutor others but ignores her own sister. From now on, I’ll pretend I never had that daughter. I want to see if all this fuss helps her get into high school. If she doesn’t, where will she find the face to return to the compound?" Bai Xue was even angrier at the families joining in. Wasn’t this embarrassing the Ye Family?

Ye Qian said nothing, but secretly resented Ye Ling for being so heartless. With top marks in the middle school exams, now daring to skip ahead to the college one felt like an open slap. She felt suffocated under Ye Ling, knowing this couldn’t continue and needed to find a way. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and support. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)